Why Would You Need A Locum Pharmacist

If you own or manage a pharmacy – you must have asked the question – Why would you need a locum pharmacist?

Well, inevitably, you WILL need one. And most usually, its going to be either to cover a holiday, sickness, or a last minute emergency that prevents the regular pharmacist from being there.

There may also be days where you want to take on some enhanced services – such as doing some nursing home visits. Or perhaps even just so you can schedule in a load of MURs. This can bring in a lot more income for the pharmacy, so it’s always worth considering hiring a locum for perhaps even one day a week as extra cover – so you can concentrate on doing other services.

And by law, for a pharmacy to stay open – there must be a qualified pharmacist in charge.

So Who Are You Going To Call?

If you have some locum pharmacists on speed dial, then it shouldn’t be a problem. However, if they aren’t available, or are fully booked, what do you do next?

You could network at local branch meetings. This gives you the opportunity to chat to other business owners, or other pharmacists – remember to bring some business cards to these meetings!

You could even advertise in the Pharmaceutical Journal or other Pharmacy magazines. It may take time to get a response, as youll need to wait for the next available ad spot – however, you will have massive exposure and will generate a lot of leads.

Another option is to advertise on the internet, on a job portal. However, I’d advise advertising on one that’s tailored specifically for pharmacy – so you can target exactly the audience you need. Example: Pjcareers.com – massive amount of traffic and very targeted as well, so you’re sure to get a response to your ad.

Advantages To Hiring An Agency

They can take the stress and hassle out of the entire process – and instead of you spinning your wheels trying to cover a holiday or cover for a pharmacist who has phoned in sick – why not just let the agency take care of it?

Just be prepared to try to book as far as advance as possible. After all, the longer you have to get a locum in, the more likely it will be that there will be someone available. Remember, the best locums are booked far in advance!

If that sounds appealing just remember that the right locum pharmacist agency needs to be reputable, fast-acting and professional.

So the next time you think why would you need a locum pharmacist? Just remember, it could happen sooner than you think…